Dolphins Potential Draft Target: OL Cody Mauch
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The 2023 NFL draft is quickly approaching.
The Miami Dolphins don’t have a first-round pick (would have been 21st overall) due to tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, but they do have the 51st overall pick, a third-round pick (85) and two Day 3 picks (198 and 241).
Miami is hoping those picks can help them build on a roster that reached the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2016.
This article series is intended to be an introduction to these players so fans are familiar with a number of options and why they make sense for the Dolphins.
We’ll dive into some simple biographical information, the pros and cons of their game and how they fit into Miami’s scheme or depth chart.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE OL CODY MAUCH
Basic background: Mauch was a walk-on tight end for the Bison before transitioning to the offensive line. He spent three seasons playing mainly as a backup before earning a starting tackle job in 2021.
After that, Mauch would start 39 straight games, with 37 starts at left tackle and two at right tackle. In 2022, he won the FCS award for the league's top offensive lineman and was named to the AP FCS All-America First Team.
North Dakota State was wildly successful in Mauch’s time, finishing 78-8 with four NCAA Division I FCS national championships and four Missouri Valley Football Conference titles over his six years.
Pros of Mauch's Game
Mauch’s whole game is predicated on two key strengths — aggressiveness and athleticism. In the running game, Mauch is an efficient mover capable of getting up to the second level and pulling into space to punish smaller defenders. He plays through the whistle and loves finishing blocks.
As a pass blocker, he was obviously a step above FCS competition in the athleticism department. He shows good foot speed to mirror rushers and counter a myriad of pass-rush moves.
Mauch is aggressive when pass-protecting. If he locks onto a defender, he’s willing to toss him to the ground instead of simply holding him up.
His aggression and movement skills align him with what many NFL teams are looking for along the offensive line.
Cons of Mauch's Game
While Mauch is an aggressive blocker capable of creating movement, he only has average functional strength. This creates a problem as Mauch will get too aggressive for his good, leading to some ugly reps.
This also affects his pass protection, as he can be susceptible to power rushers. His anchor is underwhelming at this stage. He’ll have to add a little more weight and strength to his profile at the NFL level.
While Mauch played tackle at North Dakota State, he lacks the ideal arm length to play there in the NFL. In fact, his best place in the NFL is probably at guard. That’s still valuable, but a position change does add some variance to Mauch’s evaluation.
It’s also fair to question Mauch’s age (24) since he spent six years in college. He’s a player who needs some development and might have to switch positions. Is a team willing to wait for Mauch to improve while he hits his late 20s?
HOW CODY MAUCH FITS THE MIAMI DOLPHINS
The Dolphins have a significant need at right tackle, but as mentioned above, Mauch projects better to a guard spot in the NFL. He could come in and compete with Liam Eichenberg for the team’s left guard spot, or he could fill right guard, allowing Robert Hunt to play right tackle.
Of the two options, Mauch’s fit at left guard makes the most sense. Putting a rookie between two solid veterans, Terron Armstead and Connor Williams, should be appealing. Also, Hunt has proven to be a much better guard than tackle in his NFL career.
Schematically, Mauch’s movement skills project well to Miami’s heavy outside zone rushing attack. He should have no issue moving vertically or getting out into space. On power concepts, Mauch should provide value as a puller.
Mauch is a good scheme fit and, in theory, would provide the Dolphins with flexibility along the offensive line. However, he’s got some technical issues to clean up and needs to add strength. Miami would have to be comfortable with him making mistakes if he’s on the field as a rookie.
Chances Mauch makes it to 51
Mauch hasn’t gotten first-round hype since the Senior Bowl ended in January. There were mixed reviews about his performance at the event, but the consensus seems to be that he won’t be selected in the first 31 picks.
There’s a fair chance he’s on the board when the Dolphins pick at 51. Miami probably would benefit from most teams viewing him as a tackle since that position group is deeper than the interior group this season.
If teams view Mauch as a guard — they should — there’s a chance he’ll be the second- or third-rated player at the position. If viewed as a tackle, he’s probably outside the top five.
Mauch would be a quality long-term selection for the Dolphins. He’s got the movement skills teams should be betting on along the offensive line. However, if Miami is genuinely committed to winning at all costs this season, Mauch’s lack of strength and position ambiguity might not fit into the Dolphins’ plans.
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